St. Landry democrat., 1887-04-30
CONFEDERATE oUARRELs.

CONFEDERATE QUARRELS.
A disagreeable quarrel grew out of,
or was begun afresh ON the occasion of
the unwilling Of the statue erected to
the memory of Gen. Albert Sidney
johnson, in New Orleans, on the 9th
inst, between Mr.. jefferson Davis and
Gen. Beauregard. The latter, who was
second in command at Shiloh, and first
after Johnson's death, was not present
on the 9th inst, at the unwilling cere-
monies; which implies that he expec-
ted remarks would be made disagree
able to him-and such did occur. We
do not understand that Gen. Beau
regard ever detracted from Gen. John
sons merits. Gen Beauregard assumed
chief command when the army was
worn out by hard fighting, fatigue,
hunger ana rain; and a large part of
the forces hurriedly assembled at
Corinth were raw recruits, and there
fore liable to be demoralzed by hard
ships and dangers for which they had
no preparatory discipline. We feel
sure that Gen. johnson, if he had lived,
could have done no better than Gen.
Beauregard ON the second day; and
that MI. Davis himself certainly could
not. Even when the critic is present
and looking on, it is much easier to cri-
ticlse than to perform; and when the
critic is far from the scene OF action,
criticism is more sign of bad temper
than of superior knowledge. Gen.
johnson was killed at the start, and
therefore had no opportunity to show
his military skill through a long war,
and his ability to win victories against
superior numbers and equipments.
Gen. Beauregard showed his skill
throughout the war, and at its close he
stood high as ever in the opinion of the |
soldiers-the best judges. His patriot |
ism was beyond question, and he did |
the best he could; and he should not
be censured at this late day, especially |
when that censure can not change the |
past, and can do no good in the present |
or future. Other Generals, that We're
considered Mr.. Davis pets, were put |
forward to show what they could do,
and they failed disastrously. There
was failure at Shiloh on the second day,
simply because the Confederates, I'M
like the Federals, had no large reserve
force of fresh troops to take the place
of the worn out fighters of the first
day.
But what good can these qDarrels
lead to, between generals and states
men Of the Confederacy, about things
that happened twenty-five years ago?
Editor Grady has been up to Boston,
and apologized for the sins of the
South and some prominent Southern
ers have thanked God that the "Lost
Cause was lost, because they consider
the prospects of the South for a pros
porous future much better in the Union
than they could ever have been in the
Because the Cause
was lost, lady at her death left to Mr..
Davis considerable property and a COM
Portable home; and he has made for
tune writing a book about the Confede-
racy. Gen. Beauregard enjoys a good
salary. Why should they quarrel about
the occurrences of twenty-five years a
ago, about something they cannot rem
,dy, sand which il remedied would do :
40 good They ought to be thankful
hat they are alive, and not dead like a
he thousands of just as good men as I
hey are, who fell in the forests of Shi- =
oh-for no other purpose apparently |,
han to furnish subject for them 10 .
quarrel about. We do not believe that I
zen. Beauregard helped to precipitate e
he war; bu4 he served the Confedera-
y faithfully and well rnd granting t.
hat he made mistakes, as Mr. Davis .
nd Others surely did, he ought NOT to U
'e harrassed about them now. p
Mr.. W. A. Bonnet, will be prepared h
,trx, 49, 49,